In his performance at the NATO summit and his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, President Trump confirmed the worst apprehensions of those involved in the struggle for democracy: His open admiration for autocrats and his hostility toward democratic allies are the defining elements of his personal diplomacy. But to what degree is Trump's nationalist, values-free approach shared by mainstream conservatives and Republicans?
It's a critical question given the trends in conservative political thought that have intensified since Trump became president. Conservative support for an American foreign policy that seeks to encourage and defend democratic change in other countries—once a mainstay within the GOP—is now up for debate.
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